Vermont Bounces 'cuse

2005 NCAA TOURNAMENT

Catamounts Stun Orange In Overtime

March 19, 2005|By Ken Davis, Hartford Courant

WORCESTER, Mass. -- As T.J. Sorrentine's 3-point shot fell through the net in overtime Friday night, it's quite possible the roar emanating from the DCU Center could be heard all the way to Burlington. Vermont Coach Tom Brennan, who went into the evening contemplating the end of his career, wasn't sure he would survive the excitement.

"When that went in, I thought I may burst," Brennan said. "I thought you might find me in pieces around the arena. There's nothing in the world that is that feeling. There's nothing that can make you feel like that except competition."

Sorrentine's 3-pointer from 28 feet came as the shot clock was about to expire and with 1:10 remaining in overtime. It gave Vermont, the No. 13 seed in the Austin Regional, a four-point lead over Syracuse, the 2003 national champion and one of the favorites to reach this year's Final Four.

The folks at Ben and Jerry's better name their next flavor of ice cream after the Catamounts. Sorrentine and his teammates earned it with a 60-57 victory over the No. 4 seed before 13,009 fans. Vermont (25-6), playing in its third consecutive NCAA Tournament, will play Michigan State on Sunday.

Syracuse (27-7), led by senior Hakim Warrick's 21 points, was held to a season-low scoring output. Junior guard Gerry McNamara was held to 11 points on 4-of-18 shooting. He was 1-for-7 from 3-point range, including a miss on a 3-pointer at the end of regulation.

Vermont became the first No. 13 seed to win a first-round game since Tulsa upset Dayton in 2003. And the Catamounts are the first America East team to win a NCAA game since Drexel in 1998.

"T.J.'s bomb was like a desperation shot, and he knocked it right in," Brennan said. "It's a wonderful win for our program and the biggest win in the history of our school without a doubt."

Germain Mopa Njila scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Taylor Coppenrath contributed 16 points as the Catamounts won for the first time in 12 attempts against a Big East Conference opponent. But the trey by Sorrentine will be the one that Vermont fans will replay over and over on their video players.

Mopa Njila, a native of Cameroon, gave Vermont a 56-55 lead on a 3-pointer with 1:58 left. He followed that with a steal on Syracuse's next possession, and Sorrentine worked the shot clock down as he dribbled well beyond the faded image of the NBA 3-point line.

"We were just holding the ball," Sorrentine said. "It got to be about 15 [on the shot clock], I looked over at Coach and he said, `Run red, run red.' I said, `No, hold on. Just relax.' He said OK. I was dribbling and I yelled at our guys to run the play, just to kind of distract [Syracuse]. Then I just pulled up. I knew it was down. I didn't know how deep I was, but I knew I had one more in me."

Brennan, who announced Nov. 4 that he would retire after this, his 19th season at Vermont, got the most out of all his players. Forward Martim Klimes drew the tough defensive assignment on Warrick. Despite 21 points and 12 rebounds, Warrick wasn't able to control the game because he committed 10 of Syracuse's 24 turnovers.

Syracuse, eliminated in the first round for the first time since 1999, led 23-19 at halftime but trailed 41-36 when Sorrentine hit a 3 with 5:53 left in regulation. That prompted Orange Coach Jim Boeheim to switch to a full-court press, and eight consecutive points by Warrick gave Syracuse a 51-49 lead with 1:13 to go.

An offensive foul by Warrick with the score tied at 51 gave Vermont a chance to win it. But Mopa Njila stepped out of bounds as he drove the left baseline with 3.7 seconds left.

The Catamounts have given the tournament a new Cinderella. Brennan was happy but not surprised.

"We're good," he said. "I've been saying that for a long time. This just validates it."